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The council boss said it had come to his attention that I had verbally abused two members of staff and this had caused them extreme distress under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

It's caused me to be a bit upset that someone could think I'm frightening or a bit intimidating. If I'm regarded as some sort of threat, I surely wouldn't have built up the business I have for nearly 20 years."

– Andy Blackwell, Barber

Mr Blackwell said the complaint dates back to an incident where he used his megaphone as two traffic wardens walked through the town.

I went out and did my usual siren alert, and they came running around from booking a car and started to take my photo. One of them said I was acting pathetically and like an idiot. I said that all I am doing here is having fun. I'm not being nasty.

As they walked up the road, I gave them another little announcement to warn people of traffic wardens being around. All I did was warn people of traffic wardens - a bit of a public service, you might say."

A Cornish barber says he's been placed on a council 'blacklist' for using a megaphone to warn motorists of traffic wardens.

51-year-old Andy Blackwell has been issued with a letter from his local authority after his alerts were said to have been a threat to the traffic wardens' "health and safety".

A Cornwall Council spokesman said the cautionary contacts lists was "an internal system which aims to protect council staff from potentially harmful situations, including physical assault and verbal abuse".

In a statement, the authority added: "Many local authorities around the country have similar schemes in place. This information is only used within the council and is only available to those employees who may potentially be exposed to such risks."